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Ford Focus Transmission Problems

689 messages,  Last post on Jun 18, 2013 at 10:22 AM

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Messages Page 35 of 70

#336 of 689 Clutch or Transmission? Can anybody shed some light on the situation? by mysedai

Aug 31, 2010 (9:31 pm)

Hey, guys, I'm having some problems with my 2002 Ford Focus SVT, and I was hoping maybe one of you could point me in the right direction.
The problem seems to be either my clutch of transmission, but I'm leaning toward the clutch at the moment. A month or so ago it made a brief but loud "crunch" when I put the car into reverse with the clutch completely engaged. A few days later, it acted slightly sloggish when I took off from 1st, but was otherwise fine. That happened occasionally, maybe one in ten or twelve times I drove, for a couple weeks, then the whole thing went south fairly quickly.
Now, it's nearly impossible to start on a hill; the engine will be turning 4500 rms, and the car moves by inches. The tach will flutter going up hills at higher speeds, and I realized by accident a couple of days ago that I can take my foot completely off the clutch while my car is in gear, and it doesn't even notice.
The car seems to go into all its gears correctly; that is when I'm sitting still and go through the pattern, I hear only the normal sounds it has always made, and it doesn't give me problems when I shift any more or less than any other time. The engine still purrs, but it's like I'm driving with the clutch pressed. Usually, after about ten or fifteen minutes, everything sort of mellows out, especially if I stop an pump the clutch.
I wanted to check the fluids, but can't find the transaxle resevoir my owner's manual says should be located just right of the middle, near the air filter. I did check the brake/clutch fluid, and when I got it serviced (around the same time the problem started), they seemed to have filled it to the brim. Still, taking the cap off and putting it back on seems to make it a lot better until I turn the car off and restart it.
Does anybody have any ideas? I'm competent to do minor repairs on my own, and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but if I have to take it for repairs, I like to have an idea about what the problem is and how much is should cost. I have had unscrupulous mechanics try to rip me off a couple times and I know for a fact that doing the homework has saved me nearly a thousand dollars so far! I know the vast majority of mechanics are honest guys, but I'm in a new town and don't know the good guys from the bad guys yet!
Thanks,
MySedai

#337 of 689 Re: add to #156 & 159 [rhonda25] by rhonda25

Aug 31, 2010 (9:56 pm)

Replying to: rhonda25 (Jul 15, 2010 7:01 am)
where to start on this car...well before we could figure out what was causing the jerking issue...she went to the gas station to fill up and when she went to start the car she couldn't turn the key...turns out Ford Focus has a bad problem with their ignition...we called a lock smith who fixed that issue. Then about a week later her check engine light came on..and it turned out to be the reason for her car jerking, which started to get really bad...but it was an easy fix..it was her spark plugs and spark plug wires.
She called from college yesterday and she couldn't keep her car started...turns out a mouse or a squirrel chewed the wire from the battery to the starter...she just called earlier tonight and the blinkers stopped working and called a short time later and her car wouldn't start again...could be bad battery or more rodent damage.....
 
I am getting tired of this car!

#338 of 689 02 focus se speed sensor by kaylynn

Sep 01, 2010 (4:14 pm)

I have had an issue for about 2 months now. This seems to happen after my car has sat in the sun for the day or first thing in the morning. I'll turn on the car and accelerate and it seems like the car doesn't want to go into 1st gear. The rpm's will go up but the speedometer stays on 0. Sometimes it'll catch in gear and the car will jerk and the tranny light will come on. Then the speedometer works too. Other times, if i slowly press the gas, it'll catch and go. Lately, it takes a few minutes for it to catch into gear. It feels like im drving in neutral. I usually have to restart my car 4 or 5 times before it'll work. Sometimes the speedometer will randomly drop to 0 and there will be dash marks (----) where the odometer reading is. Its odd. I took it to a shop where they hooked it up and nothing came up. One of the workers suggested i try the transmission range sensor. After $80 that didn't work. I took it to a transmission specialist and they said the speed sensor code popped up. My check engine light had turned on around that time too. I'm planning on having that sensor changed soon. I have to find out if it is the input or the output speed sensor though. Has anyone had this happen to them or have the same issue? Thanks

#339 of 689 Re: Clutch or Transmission? Can anybody shed some light on the situation? [mysedai] by dno36

Sep 02, 2010 (3:10 am)

Replying to: mysedai (Aug 31, 2010 9:31 pm)
Just to clarify..Manual 5-speed transmission, correct.
How many mile on the car??
Original Clutch??
Personally, I would first check and see if there is any pedal adjustment available for your car. it sound as if you are slipping terribly (4500 rpm's only moving inches) This is very bad to do to any clutch and will 'smoke' it.
You fluid-level description seems a bit strange...
Suggestion....I would start by getting a Haynes or Chilton repair manual for your car. This is a source of much better detail for all basic service and repairs, with many pictures to assist. It sounds like you are competent at the basic stuff and would be a good investment of less than $20.
Keep us informed.

#340 of 689 Re: 02 focus se speed sensor [kaylynn] by dno36

Sep 02, 2010 (3:28 am)

Replying to: kaylynn (Sep 01, 2010 4:14 pm)
Hi Kaylynn, hope we can assist.
You say, "I'll turn on the car and accelerate and it seems like the car doesn't want to go into 1st gear. The rpm's will go up but the speedometer stays on 0."
Is the car moving and the speedo stays at 0??
 
Can you tell us, mileage of your car, with any recent work done.
Second, take your car to a place and get the codes scanned for free. You may need to call a few places and explain your situation. Have them scan it and look at the codes yourself as they do it, it is not a big secret thing. Details get lost/filtered in translation.
A decent parts store will give you a printout of the codes with recommended repairs/parts all for free.
A speed sensor can cause problems. Most speed sensors now are magnetic, and there is a maintainence item with some of them as they collect a mass of little bits of metal on the tip as the years pass, They can be removed, cleaned, and reused.
If you allow a shop to just replace things until they find the problem, you may be broke by the time they replace them all.
Always start with the codes.
Keep us informed.

#341 of 689 Re: Clutch or Transmission? Can anybody shed some light on the situation? [dno36] by mysedai

Sep 02, 2010 (11:42 am)

Replying to: dno36 (Sep 02, 2010 3:10 am)
No, the car has the manual 6 speed transmission, close to 75,000 miles, and I know the previous owner had the clutch replaced. I bought it from a friend of mine when she moved to Japan, so I am pretty well aware of the car's history. She bought it new, and learned to drive a stick in it. The clutch that was replaced was faulty, though. I think that was at about 30,000; I bought the car at about 50,000. By the time the clutch was replaced, she was proficient at driving a manual. Luckily, my parents insisted I learn to drive in a manual ('73 AMC Hornet), so I'd say the clutch has been pretty gently used by me, except for a few people I gave driving lessons to (three of them, at about an hour apiece), and one DD who claimed to know how to drive a stick (If I'd known he was that bad at it, I'd have walked the mile to my house, lol).
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question. I genuinely appreciate it.
-Mysti

#342 of 689 Re: 02 focus se speed sensor [dno36] by kaylynn

Sep 02, 2010 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: dno36 (Sep 02, 2010 3:28 am)
Yes, the car moves when the rpms go up and the speedometer says 0. Ther car has roughly 135,000 miles on it.
Thanks for your suggestions. I took it to a mechanic and 3 codes came up this time. One was for the speed sensor, another was something about the computer and the last was the transmission. The mechanic is going to take out the sensors and clean them and go from there. Hopefully its nothing too big. Thanks again

#343 of 689 2001 ford focus by gsparkes

Sep 05, 2010 (5:38 am)

130 k when i start and cold my reverise works when tranmission heats up got no reveris but when t do work clunking and baning shaking is my tranmission going changed oil and filter

#344 of 689 1999 ford focus ghia 1600cc by colbertt

Sep 11, 2010 (1:50 pm)

I have a 1999 ford focus ghia which does not go into reverse.It dives perfectly and goes into every other gear but reverse.Can somebody help because all the experts seem to be stumped because the shifters and everything seem to be fine.So it looks to be a transmission problem.Help?

#345 of 689 2004 Ford Focus Transmission Problems by nsk2

Sep 16, 2010 (10:12 pm)

I am afraid at 25,000 miles, my Ford Dealership says I need a new transmission. I am the original owner. It has an automatic transmission. I have the same problem with the overdrive light flashing and the car not going more than about 20 mph while the tach is way up there. When they hooked the car up to the computer, no codes came up. In the time the car was setting the battery died and they said that was why no codes showed up. To make a long story short, they said with the symptoms I described it probably needed a new transmission. The only thing they said was the transmission fluid smelled burnt.
 
Of course the warranty was 5 years/100,000 miles and I've had the car for 6 years. They said I would get no help from Ford and after reading all these posts I understand. I am for the Class Action Lawsuit!
 
Any suggestions as to what I should do? Will I do more harm to it if I drive it to another service station? It bearly goes above 20 mph. I really don't have the $3,000+ to fix it. And by the way, they did ask me if I wanted to trade it in!

Messages Page 35 of 70

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